Image capturing apparatus and control method therefor

Abstract

An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor 104 in which at least part of pixels arranged in two dimensions are configured as focus detection pixels with divided-pupil, a memory control circuit 113 configured to read out from a memory position information for the focus detection pixels 401, 402 stored in the memory, and a correction circuit 110 configured to identify positions of the focus detection pixels 401, 402 in the image sensor 104 based on the position information for the focus detection pixels 401, 402 and to correct a defective focus detection pixel signal using defect-free focus detection pixel signals.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12 / 739,234, filed Apr. 22, 2010; which was the National Stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT / JP / 2008 / 072719, filed Dec. 8, 2008, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus and a control method therefor, and more particularly, to an image capturing apparatus that uses focus evaluation pixels to perform focus detection and a control method for such image capturing apparatus.BACKGROUND ART[0003]With recent advances in the sophistication of the image sensors with which image capturing apparatuses such as digital still cameras and the like are equipped, performing high-speed, high-accuracy image processing has become more important than ever. At the same time, conventionally, a method of performing autofocus (hereinafter “focus detection”) qu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This solution allows for accurate focus detection even with defective focus detection pixels by correcting signals in parallel, preventing signal imbalance and maintaining focus detection accuracy.

Problems solved by technology

Although pixel signals for focus detection are obtained from the focus detection pixels, pixel signals for forming part of an image are not obtained.

However, in a case in which defects in the manufacturing process of the image sensor such as white defects and black defects are present in the focus detection pixels, it is difficult to correct the pixel signals for focus detection obtained from the focus detection pixels using the image signals of pixels around the focus detection pixels.

As a result, in a case in which the focus detection pixels are configured as divided-pupil pixels, when there is a defect in the focus detection pixels it is difficult to correct the image signals for focus detection using nearby image forming pixels.

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